The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is set to conduct three days of hearings starting July 30, 2025, to investigate a tragic midair collision in January 2025 that resulted in the deaths of 67 people, marking it as the deadliest plane crash in the U.S. since November 2001.

Among the victims were members of the Skating Club of Boston returning from a figure skating camp, highlighting the diverse nature of those affected by the crash, which also included hunters, students, and two Chinese nationals.

Significant fundraising efforts have been initiated to support the victims' families, including a tribute event that raised $1.2 million.

The Army helicopter may have experienced inaccurate altitude readings, and the crew reportedly did not hear critical instructions from air traffic control due to a possible communication failure.

Key topics for the upcoming NTSB hearings will include military helicopter routes in the Washington area, collision avoidance technology, and the training of air traffic controllers.

Families of the victims, including Bob Collins, have criticized the U.S. Army for a lack of transparency and for changing previously agreed-upon meetings with families before the NTSB hearings.

Bob Collins intends to advocate for his son and support the families affected by the tragedy during the hearings.

The NTSB has noted numerous prior close calls in the same airspace, indicating a systemic safety issue that requires urgent attention.

Following the incident, President Donald Trump attributed the crash to the helicopter flying too high and criticized the air traffic control system, although he did not substantiate his claims.

The collision involved an American Airlines flight carrying 60 passengers and four crew members and an Army Black Hawk helicopter conducting emergency training with three soldiers on board, occurring as the jet approached Ronald Reagan National Airport.

Concerns have been raised about the understaffed air traffic control system, as a single controller was managing both commercial and military traffic during the incident.

Prior to the collision, the helicopter crew had requested visual separation from the jet, which was approved by air traffic control shortly before the crash.